“You can’t,” Briony said. “Not until I find proof.”
“But why would you want to? A year ago you were willing to do anything to be champion, and now you’re saying you want to stop all of this for good. How do I know this isn’t some trick?”
“It isn’t.” She could assure him a hundred times over that she didn’t want to kill him, but it clearly didn’t matter. That old argument would always linger between them. And she had no doubt now that he’d meant it when he said he’d changed his mind. “I promise.”
“I can’t believe that.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a spellstone. “This is a Silvertongue. Will you let me cast it on you?”
A class five truth spell. Briony swallowed down a fresh spike of panic. If he asked her about Innes while she was under its influence, she’d tell him everything. But if she said no, she’d never win him over.
“Sure,” she said, trying to sound unbothered.
Finley blew out a breath, as though he hadn’t expected her to agree. “All right.”
He took her hand in his. It was warm and strong, calloused from years of combat training. A shiver crept down her spine as his thumb slid across one of her knucklebones.
A moment later, the stone glowed white with common magick. Some of it seeped outward, a misty tendril that spiraled toward Briony’s lips. She opened her mouth and breathed it in, wincing at the tingling feeling that passed down her throat. She could feel a mark forming there, a line cutting from just beneath her chin to her breastbone. The world felt suddenly distant. Finley’s voice cut through her foggy mind a moment later.
“Do you really want to stop the tournament?”
“Yes.”
“Is that why you became champion instead of your sister?”
Briony nodded. But that wasn’t the whole reason. Another truth spilled out of her before she could stop it. “I … I knew Innes couldn’t survive long enough to try this theory for herself. She’s not as strong as I am.”
“I see.” His fingers tightened around hers. “You’re willing to bet your life on a theory?”
“Yes,” she said, and she meant it.
The tingling started to fade from Briony’s throat. Truth spells never lasted long, even the powerful ones.
“Can I trust you?” he whispered.
Briony met his eyes. “I really hope so.”
And then the tingling was gone, the Silvertongue faded away. Above them, the clouds shifted, fully illuminating Finley’s face.
“Okay,” he said seriously, pulling his hand away from hers. “I’ll help you. For now, that’s all I can promise.”
She could’ve cried. A promise was more than she’d expected. Maybe more than she deserved.
* * *
Briony and Finley were welcomed back to the Monastery with a mixture of relief and disappointment. Elionor seemed annoyed that they’d returned empty-handed, while Carbry was happy they were alive. They recapped their night around an iron table in the main courtyard, where enchanted lanterns did little to break through the murky red glow of the Blood Veil above. Insects buzzed around them, swarms of midges with a thirst for flesh and an irritating habit of evading cursefire.
“We need a better strategy,” Elionor said. “I told you we all should’ve gone to collect the Relic.”
“And leave our Landmark undefended?” Finley shook his head. “It was too much of a risk after what happened with Gavin Grieve.”
“I don’t mind staying back,” Carbry piped up. He’d brought some of his family’s research notes to the table and was flipping through them. “The last Darrow to win the tournament did so by strategically retreating to their Landmark until the champions killed each other off—”
“You mean he hid,” Elionor said. “You’re stronger than your ancestor was, okay? Your Ancient Arrows alone could take someone out in one hit. I still don’t understand why you didn’t use it on Gavin.”
Carbry’s thumb ran over a large cursering on his hand, a distinctive oval-cut gem.
“I wasn’t sure it would work,” he said quietly. “I was worried about blowback.”
Elionor rolled her eyes. “Uncle Arthur has been bragging for years that you can cast Mnemonic Device spells, and those are class eight. You’re completely capable.”
“You two are related?” Briony asked.
“We’re cousins,” answered Carbry. “Her dad is my mom’s brother. He took the Payne name when he married.” Then Carbry leaned forward and whispered. “Elionor’s a natural blonde.”